High school boys soccer: Lone Peak topples Corner Canyon in battle of two 6A giants

Friday’s game between Lone Peak and undefeated Corner Canyon wasn’t just between two of the best Region 3 teams, but between two of the top teams in the state.

It was tight throughout, but an early goal from the Knights put them ahead, and they never looked back in the 2-1 road victory.

Lone Peak likes to beat you by dominating the possession battle, and that’s what it did early Friday. The Knights were quick to retake possession, and it paid off with a goal in the 16th minute.

The goal started with Kien Cid, who has been one of Lone Peak’s best playmakers this season. His playmaking showed on Friday as he found Patrick Stevenson for the early 1-0 lead.

“That’s how we play. Possession’s our style and that’s what we want,” said Lone Peak head coach Kyle Hartman. “Sometimes we have to get out of it. Sometimes we’re forced out of it, but that’s what I love about these guys is whatever they’re asked to do, they adapt to the game.”

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While the one-goal lead was significant, Corner Canyon is a team that can turn on its offense quickly. Routinely Friday, the Chargers were able to get downfield and win a strong chance in the final third.

But Lone Peak goalkeeper Sam Parker stopped the attack almost every time.

The Chargers had strong chances on breakaways, corner kicks and free kicks, but Parker had great saves all night to keep the slim lead alive.

“These guys fought today,” Hartman said. “We had guys injured, guys playing different positions, and they came together and they fought through adversity. Sam made some incredible saves today. Just a real team effort, especially on the defensive line to pull this one out.”

As halftime came and went, and the clock dwindled, the one-goal lead felt more and more significant as Corner Canyon kept attacking and kept getting stopped by the Lone Peak defense and Parker.

Lone Peak finally put the game out of reach with a goal in the 63rd minute when a free kick from Blake Stuart found the back of the net for the 2-0 lead.

However, hope was reignited for Corner Canyon after it got a bit of luck with only five minutes left when Jex Lujan had a shot, which Parker dove for.

The ball ricocheted off the left post, into the back of Parker, and back into the net.

Corner Canyon used the momentum to make a push in the final minutes, but yet again the Lone Peak backline stood firm.

“We were down a couple of guys today and everyone just stepped up on the back line,” Parker said. “I thought we did a great job. We limited their chances — especially in the second-half — and we didn’t let that one goal bother us.

“We got together after we got scored on. It was an unfortunate break, but we just kept our calm and cool at the end.”

Friday’s win makes four in a row for the Knights. Lone Peak’s only loss so far this year was a 3-2 loss at Skyline. Now, it stands at the top of a competitive Region 3.

“I tell them sometimes, ‘You have to lose to learn how to win,’” Harman said. “When you lose, you learn a lot. It exposes what we need to work on as a team.

“These guys have fought through it. If we get beaten by a team, great. We’re going to sit down and study what they did well so that we can improve again.”